UNEMPLOYED CAMP

Grey River Argus, 19 February 1935, Page 2

UNEMPLOYED CAMP

Canterbury Dispute A PUBLIC MEETING. (Per Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, February 18. A public meeting held in Latimer Square yesterday afternoon, and attended by about 300 men, unanimously supported the action of the men at the Ashley camp, who have refused to work owing to the dismissal of one of their fellow-workers. A speaker for the 70 men employed at the camp described the events which led up to the dismissal of the man, and stated that the workers at the camp had decided not to continue work there until this man was reinstated.

The meeting was held by the Canterbury Unemployed Workers’ Association, and was addressed by several speakers on several subjects, including the standing down of men at the Sandilands joK The case for the men at Ashley was put by one of the men working there. He said that last Tuesday morning it began to rain at the camp, and under instructions from .k ganger his party stopped work. A dispute then arose with the foreman, Mr R. Cook, and the engineer-in-charge, Mr. F. Mclntyre, about whether they were to continue working that day. Mr Mclntyre made the offer to them that if there were any rain after 1 p.m. he would allow them the full day but if it did not they would not be allowed any time at all. This offer was accepted. Later one of the workers had words with Mr Mclntyre.

The men contended that it rained after 1 p.m., but the foreman and Mr Mclntyre said that it stopped at 12.50; Mr Mclntyre said he would allow a hslf-day. The same relief worker who had had words with the engineer before now had more, and was told by Mr Mclntyre to shut up. On Wednesday night, about 10 minutes past 10, this particular relief worker was out with three others getting water, and happened to laugh very loudly. The foreman came to him and told him not to go out to work the next morning till Mr McIntyre had seen him. The man asked the engineer later if this meant that he was dismissed, and Mr Mclntyre said it did. When the others heard of this they downed tools at mid-day and passed a motion that they would not work until this man was reinstated. They held that cards were played in the cook-house till late at night, and it was no worse offence for I a man to laugh loudly outside. Two of the men’s delegates were authorised to see the District Public

Works Engineer, Mr. F. Langbein, and while they were away the men were called together and asked to vote at a ballot for working or striking. They would not do anything in the absence of their delegates. Mr Langbein went to the camp ou Friday, but Mr McIntyre did not come back till Saturday. The men still adhered to their decision. The man dismissed had now to see Mr Langbein in Christchurch this morning. Motions Passed. Tl/e meeting then passed a resolution that the Canterbury Unemployed Workers’ Association co-operate with the Ashley camp men by sending its secretary or any other nominee with the man dismissed to see Mr Langbein, and pledge itself in full support oi the men’s action.

Another motion passed was: “That this meeting of workers and unemployed move a strong vote of censure on the executive of the Christchurch Returned Soldiers’ Association for the attitude it adopted during the Saiwlilands dispute.” This was moved by one of the men working at Sandilands, and carried unanimously.

Mr 11. McDonald presided over the meeting. Other speakers were Cr. A. E. Armstrong, Messrs W. Bayard, E. W. Braithwaite, and A. Blance.